Contract history:

The Clearwater Focus project began in 1997 under the Early Action Watershed Projects with the objective of completing watershed restoration projects, including fencing and road decommissioning on the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests.  Since that time, this project has planned, coordinated and supervised watershed restoration actions within the entire Nez Perce Tribe Treaty Territory, while expanding these efforts to include replacement of fish passage barrier culverts, riparian restoration, and stream channel restoration.  The project focuses on private, state, and federal lands, and has accomplished several watershed assessments and Subbasin Plans.  In addition, Master Participating Agreements have been signed between the Nez Perce Tribe and four USFS National Forests.  

The overall goal of the Clearwater Focus Watershed Program is to protect, restore, and enhance a connected network of functioning habitat types capable of supporting all fish life stages, and to re-establish normal patterns of production, dispersal, and exchange of genetic information within the Nez Perce Tribe's Treaty Territory.


FY 2008 and 2009 Contract summary:

The coordinator in this position will set the direction for the implementation toward the completion of the various Subbasin Management Plans throughout the Nez Perce Tribe Treaty Territory. The coordinator:

• Coordinates protection and restoration activities within the Nez Perce treaty territory
• Aids in the policy decisions of the Nez Perce Tribe in the management of their treaty territory
• Facilitates cooperative activities with state, local, and private organizations
• Supervises watershed project leaders from the Nez Perce Tribe
• Provides leadership in watershed activities for the Nez Perce Tribe


On-going projects within the Nez Perce Tribe Treaty Territory will continue toward restoring habitat through a variety of processes.  These watershed restoration actions will include road decommissioning and improvement, culvert replacement for fish passage, exclusion of cattle from sensitive riparian areas, assessment of critical stream reaches slated for restoration, surveying, education and outreach, and monitoring and evaluation.